Sewing machine woes -- any seamstresses have advice?
 

Hi guys,

I recently got a Brother SE400 machine, and I've been having issues the past couple of days. I usually sew fleece, and there's something amiss with the stitching. It's been skipping stitches, and occasionally I will hear some thumping and while will have skipped stitches in some areas (especially in areas with thicker layers) and then have clumps of thread in other places on the bottom side of the fabric. I do feel like I hear something under the machine, maybe the bobbin moving, but I am not entirely sure. From what I've read, that's usually a build - up under the needle plate or bobbin case, so I fiddled through the instruction manual then removed and dusted in there, plus I would think it would be unlikely for a newer machine to be THAT dusty. I thought there was a chance there had been some loose threads get down into there.

I had a similar problem on my old machine and it seemed to subside when I changed the needle. I've changed the needle at least twice and saw a subtle improvement, but messes up again after stitching for a minute or two. I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this and what it may be. I've tried rethreading the machine and checking the bobbin threading, and as far as I can tell it looks correct to me. It does look somewhat like after I stitch a while, the thread looks loose as it's sewing (the top thread -- what is through the needle). So then that makes me think it's something with the top threading, but I am alone in the dark here. I'm still pretty much a novice at sewing, and I know many of you are experts and have been doing this many more years than I have! Not to mention I have been using older machines that are much different than this new one. ^^ I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions! I hope to be able to fix this myself instead of hauling it to an authorized repairman, which looks like is close to 80 miles away! Thank you all for taking the time to read this! :heart to

Have you tried adjusting the thread tension? Also make sure the bobbin thread is being pulled from the correct direction... check in your manual.

Is your bobbin case oscillating or drop in style? I have an older brother machine with a drop in bobbin. I had a problem similar to yours and there was a plastic piece in the bobbin case that had cracked and was catching the thread. I ordered a replacement part (can't remember the name of it at the moment, bobbin case maybe?) and haven't had any trouble since.

I'm not entirely sure of the difference, but I believe it would be a drop in. I pop off a plastic piece on the machine and just place a plastic bobbin inside and thread it to the left. In my other machine I had to take the bobbin case out of the machine, place a bobbin into it, run the thread through, then place it back into the case.

Uggh, I hope I didn't manage to bust the bobbin case that quickly! :eek: Ha ha -- sounds like me though! Thank you!

I don't /think/ it's the tension, but I guess I should check that out. It's like it will sew correctly for a while, and then sometimes and mostly when I get to an extra layer of fabric, it skips some stitches, and then further down the line it just randomly starts clumping on the bottom. I read somewhere that 'birdnesting' (which I'm going to guess is what's happening here because of the shape) is usually caused by a problem with the upper thread, but then isn't skipped stitches usually a problem with the bobbin? It's insanity! Pure insanity!

**UPDATE**

Okay, I rethreaded the needle, made sure my bobbin was inserted in the correct direction, and adjusted the tension to 4 for testing ... The test fabric looks good -- looks right. It was still loud while it was sewing though, louder than before I encountered this issue, so I'm cautious. I will try on my project and see what the outcome is and let you know!

Yep, it's a drop in bobbin. Hope the problem is fixed and you don't have to wait on parts or end up having to take it to a repair shop.

Me too ... I tried again and it was still fairly loud, and it's a bit hard to tell if it worked correctly or not because it was my third attempt on a piece o' fabric (lines together), but I have a feeling it didn't do so well because I could see while I was sewing the thread loosening where it feeds through the needle. Almost like it was bending and stretching. It wouldn't be a problem because of the thread, would it? That would at least be the cause of the bird nesting, but the skipped stitching still remains a mystery. It sounds harsh when it's passing through the fabric, but it's a brand new #14 needle that came with the machine. I typically use #16's, but I read that the 14 would be fine with fleece.

I guess I'm just terrible at this. :doh:

First things first, pull that stuff apart and clean it. Thread, fabric and life in general cause dust and debris. My juki quilting machine is so picky and hates any amount of dust. Make sure theres no thread or lint under your plate, caught in any important larts, etc.
Second thing is change your needle.
Third rethread the machine
Fourth rethread the bobbin.


FYI: clumping thread or stitches showing (outside the norm) on the bottom of the fabric means a problem with your top thread. Clumping thread or stitches showing on the top means a bobbin issue. Make sure when you rethread the top, your thread goes on the correct side of the tension plate and that it falls all the way to the end of your take up lever and catches in the levers hook on the end. Mine ocassionally slips back and causes problems. Usually retreading takes care of it.
Keep in mind old thread can throw more dust, as well as cotton thread. Fleece is especially dusty.

I've changed the needle AGAIN to a #16 (brand new from Jo Ann's), rethreaded, and it seems like it's not skipping and birdnesting as much, but it's still skipping in places (thicker layers especially) and makes loud sounds as it's sewing through the fabric. I know the needle is good because I have yet again put a new one in, but everywhere I look it says the skipping (and maybe even the loud sounds) is a needle problem.

Some machines require that you use a particular brand of needle for best results. Like I have to use Singer needles in my machine... may be BS... IDK!

Try a different brand of needle????

If that doesn't work, I suggest taking it in for maintenance. We recently had one that was fresh out of the box and had a cracked tension disk.

Check your owners manuel for needle length. Needles come in sizes for thickness of fabric and length for particular needles. A Singer machine uses a Singer needle because ALL Singers use the same length needle. Older machines call for a shorter needle. So if you are purchasing German made needles (schmetz),make sure that the lengeth is correct.

Had a problem like this some years ago - kept putting on a new needle and bobbin and everything I could think of - bottom line I had the needle in backwards (front to back issue). Straightened that out and all was well. Felt rather stupid however!

Same thing goes for bobbins....